The rock star may get away with comparing Fort McMurray to Hiroshima in places like Washington, far removed from oil operations. But in Saskatchewan and Alberta, where oil fields are part of the landscape and thousands of aboriginal peoples work and profit from the oil industry, his views are so out of touch they’re embarrassing.

Indeed, if Mr. Young’s intention was to raise awareness with his Honour the Treaties tour that there is opposition by some aboriginal groups to growing oil sands development, what he’s getting is a frosty snub.

On the heels of Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall calling the singer’s Hiroshima comparison “insensitive and ignorant of the facts,” the Calgary-based oil industry fired some low blows of its own Thursday.

“Every Canadian has the right to an opinion, and in the case of Mr. Young’s opinions on the oil sands, I would suggest that he has a democratic right to be wrong,” Dave Collyer, president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, said in a press conference in Calgary Thursday, displaying a new directness in addressing criticism unsupported by facts.

“The fact of the matter is that our industry is proud of the long and enduring and positive relationships that we have with Canada’s aboriginal people in many parts of the country. First Nations and our industry are neighbours, collaborators, business partners and in many cases, friends.”

Oil sands companies provide aboriginal businesses with contracts worth more than $1.8-billion in revenue per year. In a region with a relatively small aboriginal population, more than 1,700 aboriginal employees work directly for oil sands operations.

Oil sands companies regularly step up to fund community-building programs – school and youth programs, celebrations, cultural events, literacy, community projects and other initiatives. Consultation with aboriginals about all aspects of the business is taken seriously.

Industry is so confident it’s on the right side of this story it has invited Mr. Young and Athabasca Fort Chipewyan First Nation chief Allan Adam to meet and discuss a better way forward when the tour arrives in Calgary on the weekend.

Mr. Young, who is touring Canada to help raise money for the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in its fight against the expansion of a mining project operated by Royal Dutch Shell PLC, is scheduled to perform in Calgary on Sunday, in Regina on Friday and in Winnipeg on Thursday.

Shell also took a stand against Mr. Young Thursday.

It came from Stephanie Sterling, vice-president for commercial strategy and business development for heavy oil.

Unlike Mr. Young, Ms. Sterling has lived in Alberta all her life; was born and raised in Westlock, just south of Fort McMurray; and is creating jobs.

Shell and its partners have invested $20 billion in Canada’s oil sands, employ 2,700 people in its operations, and support 4,600 jobs across the province, she said.

The expansion of its Jackpine mine is on land identified for industrial activity and would improve environmental performance. It incorporates aboriginal expertise and traditional knowledge, she said.

“Industry does play an important role in advancing aboriginal interests,” she said. “Members of our team, including our consultation staff and senior leaders, meet regularly with aboriginal communities to discuss projects, training and business opportunities and cultural activities. We won’t always agree, but conversations are open, regular, most often constructive, and ongoing to ensure projects are fully discussed and the benefits of development can be shared.”

Of course there is room for improvement. It’s not easy for people with different values, histories and expectations to find common ground.

But the time has passed for instigating conflict, filing lawsuits, or turning back the clock on oil sands development.

Many initiatives are under way in Western Canada to ensure First Nations are full participants in resource development. They include follow up to recommendations of Douglas Eyford, appointed last year by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to find ways to reconcile aboriginal, government and industry interests to build West Coast energy infrastructure.

If Mr. Young really cares about aboriginals affected by oil development, he should get to work to find solutions and forget the in and out celebrity tour.